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206

Enclosure 3 in No. 54.

MURDERS (SIXTEen Months, 1st January, 1914, TO 30TH APRIL, 1915) and Riot

1. Western

2. Sabaragamuwa

3. Centra!

4. Southern

5. North-Western

6. Uva

7. North Central

8. Northern

9. Eastern

Province.

DAMAGES.

Riot damages'

Population.

per head of population.

Propresion of murders to population (for exter months, 1st January, 1914, to 30th April, 1918).

1,108,886

Rs. 3.55

1: 44,347

408,521

1.35

1: 34,043

672,560

.79

1: 184,512

629,188

.54

1: 89,883

434,271

.31

1: 48,252

216,858

1: 54,214

86,276

1: 86,276

370,016

1: 370,016

183,996

Nil

SIR.

207

Enclosure 2 in No. 55,

The Queen's House, Colombo, 28th August, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter C.R. No. 3256/2/N (A) of 27th August last, forwarding proceedings of a field general court martial held at Matara, on 12th August, 1915, and following days, together with the evidence taken before it, confirmed by you.

2. In the cases of

V. V. Hendrick Appuhamy.

P. K. Mendis Weerakoon,

I. Maddumage Goeris,

K. D. Dahanayaka, alias Upasaka Mahatmaya,

Don Arnolis Geerasinghe,

Warnasinghe Babuwe,

Ranhamy Geerasinghe,

convicted of murder and other offences and sentenced to death, I do not propose to exercise the clemency of the Crown except in the case of Don Arnolis Geerasinghe, in whose case I have decided to exercise the clemency of the Crown on the condition that the accused undergo a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for life.

3. I approve the sentences of penal servitude as set forth in the schedule dated 12th August, 1915, contained in the proceedings referred to.

I am, &c.,

46584

No. 55.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Confidential (C).)

(Received 8th October, 1915.)

SIR,

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 17th September, 1915. In continuation of my Confidential despatch (B) of the 10th September,* I have the honour to inform you that twenty-one further capital sentences of field general courts martial have been duly confirmed and promulgated by the Officer Commanding the Troops. In nine of these cases I have, with the advice of the Executive Council, confirmed the sentences of death, and in twelve cases I have decided that the clemency of the Crown should be exercised. I attach copies of four letters to the Officer Commanding the Troops intimating my decision.

Copy

2. A of the charges and of the evidence led before the court martial in the case of the twenty-one prisoners is enclosed.

I have, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor, &c.

The Honourable

SIR.

The Brigadier-General

Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

Enclosure 3 in No. 55.

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

The Queen's House, Colombo, 28th August, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter C.R. No. 3256/2/L (A), of 24th August last, forwarding proceedings of a field general court martial held at Kalutara on 9th August, 1915, and following days, together with the evidence taken before it, confirmed by you.

2. As regards the cases of H. P. Fernando, P. G. Fernando, and W. S. Fernando alias Singho, convicted of murder and other offences and sentenced to death, I do not propose to exercise the clemency of the Crown in the cases of H. P. Fernando and P. G. Fernando. I have decided to exercise the clemency of the Crown in the case of W. S. Fernando, alias Singho, on the condition that he undergo a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for life.

3. I

approve the sentences of penal servitude as set forth in the schedule dated 13th August, 1915, contained in the proceedings referred to.

SIR,

Enclosure 1 in No. 55.

The Queen's House, Colombo, 28th August, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 24th August last, forwarding the proceedings of a field general court martial held at Kurunegalle on the 29th July and following days, together with the evidence taken before it, confirmed by you.

2. In the case of T. Constantinu Perera, convicted of murder and other offences and sentenced to death, I do not propose to exercise the clemency of the Crown.

3. I approve the sentences of penal servitude as set forth in the schedule dated 29th July, 1915, contained in the proceedings referred to.

The Honourable

The Brigadier-General

Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

* No. 58.

I am, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor:

The Honourable

The Brigadier-General

Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

SIR,

Enclosure 4 in No. 55.

I am, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

The Queen's House, Colombo, 28th August, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter C.R. No. 3256/2/E (A), of 27th August last, and of the proceedings of a court martial held at Galle, on 2nd August, 1915, and evidence taken before it, confirmed by you, as stated therein.

2. I have decided to exercise the clemency of the Crown in the cases of the accused who were sentenced to death, on the condition that they undergo sentences of rigorous imprisonment, as follows:-

H. G. Toronis, fourteen years' rigorous imprisonment;

N. S. Cornelis, alias Punchi Appuhamy, twenty years' rigorous

imprisonment;

A. B. Janchi, rigorous imprisonment for life;

N. B. J. Gunawardana, twenty years' rigorous imprisonment:

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

I, KEE

Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON